Medmerry nature reserve - Managed Realignment Understanding the Intertidal Processes (MRIP)

In September 2013, the largest open coast managed realignment scheme in Europe was breached and Medmerry Nature Reserve created.

Part of the remit of the design of a managed realignment site is that it provides sustainable flood defence as well as becoming a fully functioning ecosystem. To achieve this newly created managed realignment, systems also have to be resilient to sea level rise and the increase in storminess. Understanding of the relationship between geomorphological elevation and vegetation is often used as one of the principle tools in the design and construction of these managed realignment sites, but understanding of the geomorphological evolution, response to extreme events and development of abiotic factors in managed realignment sites is incomplete.

The University of Brighton has been funded by the Environment Agency to monitor and sample the intertidal sediment and hydrodynamics along with meteorological data within the new Medmerry site. As part of a larger multidisciplinary team, co-ordinated by the Environment Agency, this data will also feed into other research areas (eg. flora and fauna), hence building up a fuller interdependent multi-criteria understanding of the development of managed realignment sites.

Other similar projects include Pagham harbour and Chichester harbour

Sediment coring in the intertidal area of Medmerry nature reserve

Sediment coring in the intertidal area of Medmerry Nature Reserve

Project timeframe

This project commenced in 2013 and will end in 2019.

Project aims

The project aims are as follows

to determine how the erosion, transport, deposition and consolidation cycle of intertidal sediment in an Open Coast Managed Realignment site is influenced by hydrodynamic and meteorological factors.
to provide high frequency environmental to other project partners who are investigating the colonisation of newly created Managed Realignment sites by flora and fauna.
to gain further detailed understanding into the development of an anthropogenically created intertidal estuarine environment, as terrestrial soil transforms into intertidal sediment.
to develop effective methods for the longer term monitoring of geomorphological evolution of managed realignment sites.

Medmerry nature reserve during high tide

Medmerry Nature Reserve intertidal area during high tide

Project findings and impact

This project is ongoing and further information will be available upon completion.

Low tide eroding intertidal cliff

Research team

Dr Heidi Burgess

Professor Andy Cundy

Professor Callum Firth

Paul Kilkie

Jon Dale

Output

Burgess, HM, Kilkie, P and Callaway, T (2015), Understanding the Physical Processes Occurring within a New Coastal Managed Realignment Site, Medmerry, Sussex, UK; Proceedings of the 8^th ICE Coastal Management 2015, Amsterdam.

Partners

Environment Agency

RSPB

Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority

New Forest District Council

National Oceanographic Centre